Nancy Jewett Receives WSBA Local Hero Award

“At every stage in her long career, she has always been, first and foremost, a woman who finds the time to help those in need.”

Congratulations to Nancy A. Jewett, the newest recipient of the WSBA Local Hero Award! WSBA President Michele Radosevich presented the award at a luncheon in Cle Elum on July 26, in recognition of Nancy’s career of service to the Washington court system and legal community.

“Nancy is truly a local hero because at every stage in her long career, she has always been, first and foremost, a woman who finds the time to help those in need of her thoughtful and loving energy,” said retired Lower Kittitas County District Court Judge Thomas Haven. “Since Nancy is the kind of person whose help often comes in quiet, behind-the-scenes ways, it is particularly fitting that she be acknowledged by a bar association that so often benefited from her intelligence and wisdom.”

Nancy began her career in the legal profession as a legal assistant. She served as the court administrator for Lower County District Court for 16 years. During that time, she also served as court commissioner for retired Lower District Court Judge Thomas Haven. Jewett served as president of the state’s association of district court administrators, and advised other district courts on their court improvement initiatives.

Nancy volunteers as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) for dependent children under the jurisdiction of Kittitas County Superior Court. In that capacity, she has been an officer of the superior court for more than 23 years. Nancy serves as the liaison to the CASA program’s board of directors, and also assists the program as a volunteer trainer and mentor for new advocates. She is well known and respected for her thorough investigations, sound judgment, and the ability to find resources to help dependent children and their families after others have given up the search.

Since her retirement from district court, Nancy has spent hundreds of hours each year serving vulnerable children in the community. She volunteers at Mt. Stuart Elementary, serves on the county’s juvenile court accountability board, and continues her CASA volunteer work.

Please join us in thanking Nancy for her many years of dedication and hard work!